Gametocyte

Gametocyte is a cell that divides to form gametes. In many species, including humans, gametocytes are produced by meiosis in certain types of cells in the gonads (sex organs), then undergo a second cell division to form gametes. The female gametocytes are called oogonia, and the male gametocytes are called spermatogonia.

Overview

Gametocytes are essential for the sexual reproduction of some organisms, including many species of plants and animals. They are produced in the gonads (sex organs) of these organisms, and are responsible for the production of gametes, which are the cells that combine during fertilization to form a new organism.

Formation

The formation of gametocytes is a complex process that involves several stages. First, certain cells in the gonads undergo meiosis, a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. These cells are the gametocytes. The gametocytes then undergo a second cell division, called mitosis, to form the gametes.

Role in Disease

In some diseases, such as malaria, the parasites that cause the disease produce gametocytes. These gametocytes are taken up by a mosquito when it bites an infected person, and are then transmitted to another person when the mosquito bites again. This is how the disease is spread.

See Also

• Meiosis
• Mitosis
• Gamete
• Gonad
• Malaria

References

Gametocyte Resources
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